Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

Chapter 199 Foundation Establishment Pill Recipe and Golden Burning Spirit Flame_2

Afterward, Zhao Sheng heard that Ge Chen was locked in Contemplation Cave for ten years of reflection as a way to give Master Qi Feng an explanation.

Zhao Sheng never expected that after Ge Chen's narrow escape, he would remain silent, not even sending a word out, eventually leading to this embarrassing situation. Whom could this be blamed on?

Perhaps Ge Chen thought he was the only one who survived, which is why he chose to "keep his mouth shut."

The very next morning, under Zhao Sheng's guidance, Master Qi Feng personally inspected the First-rank Spirit Vein.

After examining the Spiritual Cave and confirming that the spirit vein's quality was First Order Middle Grade, Master Qi Feng's face finally showed a trace of a smile.

In the Cultivation World, spirit veins are the foundation of all Cultivation Forces; no one would think they had too many.

Back in the day, the Zhao Family had paid a hefty price to rent the spirit vein in Dragon Carp Lake. After moving to Taifu Mountain, they spared no life or death in participating in the Southern Border expansion war, eventually trading Flame Ridge and Lush Peach Mountain for the ownership of a First-rank Spirit Vein.

One can imagine the rarity and preciousness of spirit veins.

Zhao Sheng also wanted to hide this spirit vein, but it was not feasible.

Let's not forget, Ge Chen knew of this place as well.

Instead of letting Ge Chen leak the information, it was better to take the initiative and inform the Spring and Autumn Alliance to secure some benefits in return.

In the undersea spiritual vein stone cave, Master Qi Feng, having inspected the cave, turned to Zhao Sheng and said, "There are only you and I here. Think carefully about what you want to trade it for. Rest assured, with this True Immortal here, you won't suffer any losses!"

Seeing the profound meaning in Master Qi Feng's eyes, Zhao Sheng got the hint.

The invitation in his words couldn't be clearer.

Since that was the case, he wouldn't be blamed for making a hefty request.

"I would like to exchange it for a Foundation Establishment Pill recipe, may the True Immortal grant this wish!" Zhao Sheng said directly.

Master Qi Feng's eyebrows raised, and he scolded with a laugh, "Good lad, you sure know when to strike, and you've certainly got the nerve to ask."

Zhao Sheng felt relieved at this response, knowing the matter was settled.

Which is more important, a spirit vein or the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe? For a power, it really is a subjective question.

But from Master Qi Feng's perspective, a mere elixir recipe not only secured a spirit vein but also gained a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, killing two birds with one stone, a very worthwhile deal.

Shortly after, the two left the undersea spirit vein and returned to Nine Virtuous Isle.

Three days later, Zhao Sheng was invited by Master Qi Feng again and finally got the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe he wished for.

At the same time, he naturally became one of Master Qi Feng's people.

Over the next month, Zhao Sheng successively met with the eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators from his side, clearly establishing his status as "one of our own."

…

Just after returning to his cave mansion, Zhao Sheng rushed into the quiet room, waved his hand to release four Barrier Talismans, and established an isolation barrier.

Then, he excitedly took out the Jade Scroll that contained the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe, sent his Divine Sense into it, and began to meticulously examine it.

After a while, Zhao Sheng put away the Jade Scroll, his expression one of deep thought.

To his knowledge, the Foundation Establishment Pill in the Central Continent used Red Fire Ganoderma as the main ingredient, but this recipe was different. It used Thousand-Pattern Star Algae Fruit as the primary ingredient for Foundation Establishment.

The Thousand-Pattern Star Algae Fruit is a Spirit Fruit from the Star God Sea, which occasionally floats to the surface during the once-a-year Star Algae Tide and is picked by some lucky few.

In terms of availability and rarity, the Thousand-Pattern Star Algae Fruit is much less common than the Red Fire Ganoderma.

In other words, the annual production of Foundation Establishment Pills in the Shattered Star Sea is extremely limited and nowhere near enough to meet the demands of Qi Refining Immortal Cultivators.

Zhao Sheng had once bid on a Foundation Establishment Pill on Wind and Fire Island and was well aware that its price was more than double the average price in the Central Continent.

After pondering for a while, he put away the Elixir Recipe Jade Scroll and took out the Jade Purifying Bottle containing the Jade Spirit Liquid, poured out a mouthful of Spirit Liquid, and swallowed it.

Swish!

As soon as the Spirit Liquid went down, he immediately felt a cool breath rush up from his stomach, passing through the lungs and throat and pouring into the Purple Mansion Soul Sea, materializing into a drizzle of spirit rain that fell down, merging into the Soul Sea.

In an instant, Zhao Sheng felt as if his mind were coated with a layer of refreshing balm. He was utterly cool and comfortable, and his thoughts were crystal clear, his thinking much faster than before.

At this moment, Divine Sense unconsciously spread out, reaching its maximum range of thirteen zhang, then gradually began to expand even further.

Time seemed to have passed for ages, yet it felt like just a moment.

When the Spirit Liquid had been completely absorbed, Zhao Sheng was surprised to find that the strength of his Divine Sense had increased slightly, and its range had expanded by more than a foot.

Seeing how miraculous the Jade Spirit Liquid was, Zhao Sheng couldn't help but gulp down another mouthful in his joy.

Swoosh!

The peculiar state reappeared, and his Divine Sense began to slowly expand outward once again.

...

Three years flew by in the blink of an eye.

In Elixir Fire Square on Xia Guang Island, a new Alchemy Shop called Heavenly Tripod Pavilion recently opened on True Flame Street.

"Do you know who the owner of Heavenly Tripod Pavilion is?"

At a wine table in a tavern facing the street, a middle-aged man with a beard playfully asked his friends.

"Who is it? Come on, Old Li, stop holding out and just tell us! I'll foot the bill for this table if I must," his friend urged, running out of patience.

The middle-aged man known as Old Li chuckled before saying, "You're aware that the Alchemy Master Association has recently gained a few Alchemists, right?"

"Cut the nonsense!" his friend interjected impatiently.

"Don't be in such a hurry!" the middle-aged man said with an awkward smile, hastening to add, "The owner of Heavenly Tripod Pavilion is none other than the recently renowned Zhao Chonghe. He's not only a newly-promoted First-rank Alchemist but also a Guest Elder of the Spring and Autumn Alliance. I've also heard that Senior Zhao's strength is unfathomable, never having been defeated in a fight."

"Really? How come I've never heard of him before?"

"Senior Zhao has always kept a low profile. If my third uncle hadn't had dealings with him, I wouldn't have known how formidable he really is either."

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As the two discussed Zhao Sheng, the subject of their conversation was in the backyard of Heavenly Tripod Pavilion, meeting with a friend.

In the living room, Jin Ming wiped the sweat from his brow and said with a mix of pride and a bit of complaint, "I've been running around so much for your sake that my legs have gotten thinner, and my throat is about to start smoking."

Zhao Sheng personally poured him a cup of tea and said with a smile, "Brother Jin, you've worked hard! Did everything go smoothly?"

Jin Ming, pleased with himself, took a sip of tea and boasted, "Do you even need to ask? With me on the case, I've already got what you wanted."

After speaking, he took out a fiery red gourd and carefully passed it to Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng received the gourd, probed inside it with his Divine Sense, and saw a palm-sized bright yellow spirit flame quietly burning within.

"Is this... the Golden Crow True Fire?" Zhao Sheng couldn't help but ask upon seeing this.

"You're getting ahead of yourself! Golden Crow True Fire scorches the heavens and earth, and this little one doesn't even possess one percent of its power. At best, it's a Golden Burning Spirit Flame. Whether it can ascend to the Golden Crow True Fire depends on whether you can gather the Seven-colored Spiritual Fire," Jin Ming said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Zhao Sheng wasn't disappointed and nodded, "So it's the Golden Burning Spirit Flame, not bad. As long as it can be used for alchemy, that's all that matters."

"Brother Zhao, aren't your standards a bit too high? There are countless Alchemists in the association who are coveting this Golden Burning Spirit Flame, and yet it has ended up in your hands. Don't be ungrateful!" Jin Ming said, quite indignant.

Zhao Sheng put away the Fire Gourd and said with a smile, "I'm not ungrateful. It's all fair competition, after all. Whoever is willing to pay the most gets it! If they're unwilling to make a bid, who can blame them?"

"Hmph, besides me, who in the Alchemist Association knows how rich you, Zhao Mansion's Zhao Da, truly are? To get a Spirit Flame for alchemy, you are willing to throw down two hundred thousand Spirit Stones," Jin Ming grumbled.

"Mr. Jin, are you suggesting the hush money I gave you isn't enough?"

Jin Ming's eyes shifted, and he protested, "I wouldn't dare say that. But if Taoist Zhao could give me some pointers on how to refine the Spirit Essence Pill, that would be most appreciated."

The Spirit Essence Pill is a Second Order Spirit Pill recorded in the "Hundred Elixirs Formula" and is primarily used to enhance cultivation.

In just a few years, Jin Ming was shocked to find that Taoist Zhao's alchemy skills had quietly surpassed his own.

Taoist Zhao could refine at least three types of Second Order Spirit Pills, while he hadn't managed to refine even one successfully.

Every time Jin Ming thought about this, he felt like he had lived all these years in vain.

"That's easy to arrange, we'll go to the Earth Fire Room tomorrow," Zhao Sheng agreed readily.